Ditching-machine.



PATENTED OCT. 4, 1904.

S. D. LAYTON.

DITCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1:20.31. 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

PATENTED OCT. 4, 1904.

S. D. LAYTON.

DITOHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION rum) DEG.31, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No MODEL.

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\"//4 ///III///////// Patented October 4, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN D. LAYTON, OF WVESTPORT, INDIANA.

DlTCHlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 771,374, dated October4, 1904.

Application filed December 31, 1903. Serial No. 187,376- O odel-J To allwhmn it puny concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN D. LAYTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at l/Vestport, in the county of Decatur and State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ditching-Machinespfwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for forming subsoil drains, trenches,or passages for carrying off water from lowlands, meadows, and placeswhere there is a tendency for water to accumulate and stand.

In its structure the machine comprises a frame adapted to be advancedover the field, a point constructed to penetrate the soil a distancebelow the surface, a standard havingthe point attached thereto, upperand lower braces for fixing the position of the standard, and adjustingmeans for moving the standard and point vertically as may be requiredaccording to the depth of the trench or drain required from the surfaceof the ground.

For a full descriptionof the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means foreffecting the result reference is to be had to the following descriptionand drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention aresusceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 isa central longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is atransverse section onthe line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the point,show ing the lower part of the standard. Fig. 5 is a detail perspectiveview of the head applied to the standard.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The working parts of themachine are carried by the frame, which, asillustrated, is mounted upon supporting-wheels 1 at the ends of theaxles 2, the front axle having king-bolt connection with the frame inthe usual way.

The frame comprises longitudinal bars 3 and end bars 4. The reach orpole 5 connects the front and rear axles in the accustomed manner and isreinforced at its rear end by hounds 6.

V The standard 7 is comparatively thin and wide and is arranged with itsgreatest width lengthwise of the machine, so as to present a minimumamount of surface to the action of the ground and to resist the strain.The lower end of the standard is thickened and tapered to an edge, asindicated at 8 in Fig. 3. The point 9 is approximately of conical formand is provided with a socket extended lengthwise thereof from the rearend to receive the thickened end 8 of the standard 7, said socketopening through the upper side of the point to receive the standard. Thepoint is connected to the standard by a slip-joint and is held in placeby a pin or like fastening 10, passed through transversely-alinedopenings formed in the point and end 8. The head 11, secured to theupper end of thestandard 7, is provided with four lugs 12, which aretransversely and longitudinally spaced to receive the upper end of thestandard and the enlargement 13 at the lower end of the feed-screw 14:.The head 11 is secured to the upper end of the standard 7 by pins orrivets in the usual manner. The reach5 islongitudinally slotted, asindicated at 15, to admit of the standard 7 passing therethrough.

A frame 16 is secured to the main frame of the machine and comprises aplurality of curved legs which are firmly attached at their lower endsto the longitudinal bars 3, the central portion of the frame beingreinforced by a boss and provided with a threaded opening to receive thefeed-screw 14. This frame 16 is of spider form and constitutes a bracefor the upper end of the standard 7. A plate 17 is firmly attached tothe longitudinal bars 3 and is centrally slotted to receive the standard7 and is provided at the ends of the slot with rollers 18 to minimizethe frictional contact of the edges of the standard 7 with the plate.The brace-frame is pendent from the main frame and acts jointly with thestay elements 16 and 17 to strengthen the standard 7. This pendentbrace-frame is composed of corresponding bars 19, having the middleportion of each bent downward and inward and the end portions twisted,so as to lie fiat against the outer side of the longitudinal bars 3. Themiddle portions of the bars 19 are brought together, so as to lieagainst opposite sides of the standard 7, and are connected by bolts orpins 20, upon whichare mounted sleeves 21, which constituteantifriction-rollers for contact of the edges of the standard therewith.The bars 19 are adjustably connected at their upper ends with thelongitudinal bars 3, so as to provide for vertical adjustment of thestandard and admit of bracing the same at any distance from the surfaceof the ground.

The machine is adapted to be drawn over the ground in any accustomedway, and the point 9 running through the soil provides a drain orpassage for carrying off water. The depth of the drain may be regulatedby adjusting the standard 7 vertically, this being accomplished by meansof the feed-screw 14, threaded into the upper portion of the braceframe16 and having its lower end connected to the head 11 by a swivel-joint.The clampscrew 22, threaded into a lateral opening of the head 11, isadapted to be forced against the feed-screw, so as to hold the standardin the adjusted position.

Having thus described the invention. what is claimed as new is- 1. In aditching-machine, the combination of a standard having its lower endthickened, a point having a socket extended lengthwise thereof from therear end and adapted to receive the thickened end of the standard and tomake connection therewith by means of a slip-joint, substantially as setforth.

2. In a ditching-machine,the combination of the main frame, a standardprovided at its lower end with a point, and a brace-frame pendent fromthe main frame and composed of companion bars having their middleportions bent downwardly and inwardly and having their terminal portionsconnected to iongitudinal bars in the front and in the rear of thestandard, said middle portion being connected immediately in the frontand in the rear of the standard and lying against opposite sides of thelatter, substantially as set forth.

3. In a ditching-machine, the combination of a main frame, avertically-disposed standard provided at its lower end with a point,companion bars having their end portions twisted to lie flat against thelongitudinal bars of the main frame and having their middle portionsdeflected downward and inward and bent to lie fiat against oppositesides of the standard, and means connecting the ends of said bars to themain frame and their middle portions to each other in the front and inthe rear of the standard, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

STEPHEN D. LAY ON WVitnesses:

THOMAS KEToHUM, J onn S. MORRIS.

